Knock-down showcase



Jan. 11, 1966 BECKERMAN KNOCK-DOWN SHOWCASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2, 1962 Jan. 11, 1966 M. BECKERMAN KNOCK-DOWN SHOWCASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2, 1962 Jan. 11, 1966 M. BECKERMAN KNOCK-DOWN SHOWCASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 2, 1962 Jan. 11, 1966 M. BECKERMAN KNOCK-DOWN SHOWCASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 2, 1962 1966 M. BECKERMAN KNOCK-DOWN SHOWCASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 2, 1962 w' i IN W United States Patent 3,228,736 KNUCK-DQWN SHDWCASE Morris Beciaerman, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Garey fiorporation, a corporation of iiinois Filed Feb. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 170,632 3 Ciaims. (Cl. 3l2140) The invention relates to improvements in knock-down showcases, and is particularly concerned with the construction and assembly of various pre-fabricated frame structures that may be assembled easily and quickly into showcases of various sizes and shape.

In accordance with the present invention, separate substantially rectangular front, and back frame structures are pre-fabricated and are constructed so as to be quickly and easily assembled on a suitable base structure. The back frame structure is formed to receive sliding doors, but it will be understood that it may be provided with a pivoted door or doors, if desired. More specifically, each substantially rectangular frame structure is comprised of top and bottom stretchers and connecting uprights secured together at the frame corners, in any suitable manner, as, for example, by welding or by the use of screws, to form a rigid frame structure within which transparent panels or sliding doors may be mounted. In instances where an elongated or multiple showcase is desired, such a showcase can be assembled from a desired number of front and back frames and base sections arranged end to end in alignment and joined at their meeting edges by a prefabricated divider frame structure. In each instance, the stretchers, uprights and other component parts of the various frame structures are comprised of preformed strips of sheet metal of predetermined length, each including the requisite means to facilitate its being secured one to the other and to a support structure. A reflector mounted on the front frame structure is adapted to hold an electric lamp or lamps, such as fluorescent tubes. The assembly includes passageways or ducts through which electric wires for such lamps may be threaded so as to be concealed from view.

The showcase structure of the present invention has the advantage of permitting the component parts of the frame structures .0 be mass produced and cut to the requisite size. Each frame structure is assembled with minimum of time and labor. When assembled into a showcase assembly, the frame structures provide a strong rigid assembly. in the present disclosure, the various stretchers, uprights and like components are illustrated as being fabricated by the folding and offsetting of strips of sheet metal, but it will be understood that they may be formed of any suitable shape-retaining material. In some cases the components may be extruded.

The structure by means of which the above noted and other advantages of the invention are attained will be described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showing several preferred illustrative embodiments of the invention, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an assembled unglazed showcase frame embodying features of the invention, showing it mounted on a base cabinet shown in dot-dash lines;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the showcase frame shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view of the showcase, taken substantially on line 33 of FIG. 1, with medial portions broken away and showing the frame structures glazed;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the showcase taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 1,

Patented Jan. 11, 1966 "ice with medial portions broken away and showing the frame structures glazed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of one end of the showcase, taken substantially on line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the top stretcher of the front frame structure showing the mounting of the reflector;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view similar to FIG. 6, but illustrating a slightly modified form of front frame top stretcher;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged exploded view, with parts broken away, of the front, back and one end frame structure of the FIG. 2 disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a series of assembled frame structures joined end to end to provide a sectionalized showcase;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded view of a segment of the sectionalized showcase shown in FIG. 9, showing the end, back and divider frame structures thereof;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view of the sectionalized showcase shown in FIG. 9, taken substantially along line 1111 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 12 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on line 12-12 of FIG. 11, showing the back wall divided frame assembly; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the bottom stretcher of the end frame shown in FIG. 10, showing it secured to the bottom support.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 8, inclusive, the knockdown showcase 10 is compn'sed of six completely fabricated panel or frame structures each made as a pre-fabricated separate assembly and all assembled in an easy and inexpensive manner into a complete showcase. As shown, the showcase is comprised of a front frame structure 11, a back frame structure 12, a pair of connecting end frame structures 13, a base panel 14 and a top panel 15. Each of the frame structures 11, 12 and 13 is fabricated from strips of sheet material, such as steel, suitably formed to provide the necessary cross-sectional configuration to adapt it for the purposes intended. These pre-fabricated frame structures are arranged in the substantially rectangular box-like form best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and they have their complemental upright edges suitably secured one to the other to provide a rigid assembly. The front and end frame structures are formed with means for securing the aforesaid assembly to a suitable bottom support 16, such as, for example, a cabinet or table, after which the bottom and top panels are placed in position.

The front frame structure 11, best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 8, consists of a substantially rectangular frame comprised of a bottom stretcher 17, upstanding end members 18 and a connecting top stretcher 19. The top stretcher 19 is formed to provide a downwardly opening longitudinal channel 20 and has an inwardly offset horizontal flange 2'1 integral with the free edge of the inner wall of said channel. The upstanding end members 18 are alike, one being left-hand and the other being right hand, and each is L-shaped in section to provide a front flange 22 and an inwardly extending edge flange 23. These end members 18 are secured, as by welding, one to each end of top stretcher 19, and they extend downwardly therefrom and each has, at its lower end, an anchor block 24 for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The bottom stretcher 17 also is L-shaped in section to define a front flange 25 and a rearwardly or inwardly extending base flange 26. This stretcher 17 is dctachably secured at its ends to the bottom ends of end members 18, as by screws 27 threaded into the respective anchor blocks 24, so as to form the complete rectangular front frame structure 11. When the front frame structure is mounted in an upright position, as best illustrated in FIG. 3, the base flange 26 of bottom stretcher 17 is firmly secured to the support structure 16, as by screws 28.

A glass panel or other transparency 29 is mounted in the front frame structure from the back side thereof. Panel 29 is held in place against the inside faces of the vertical flanges of the stretchers and end members by stops 3% Stops 30 are in the form of ducts that are abutted against the inside vertical margins of panel 2? and are secured to edge flanges 23 by screws 31. Ducts 30 are preferably formed as two channel members. One of the channel members is secured to the flange 23 by screws 31, and the other is snapped over the first channel to form a tubular duct. These ducts are employed as conduits for wiring for fluorescent tubes 31. A channelshaped reflector 32, best shown in FIG. 6, having a depending flange 33, an intermediate wall 34 and a depending flange 35, is laid against the upper margin of the glass panel 2% and is secured to top stretcher flange 2 1, as by screws 36. The ducts 30 and reflector flange 3 3 effectively retain the glass panel in place in the front frame structure. The glass panel may have its edges enclosed in a peripheral molding 37 which may be made of metal or any other suitable resiliently yieldable material.

The back frame structure 12, best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8, is comprised of a top stretcher 38, fabricated from an outside channel member 39 and an inner channel member 40, each defining a downwardly opening longitudinally extending guide channel. Upright end members 41 are connected at their upper ends one to each end of stretcher 38, as by welding. Each of these end uprights comprises a channel having a width equal to the combined width of the combination of channels 39, 40 forming the top stretcher. Each end member 41 is connected at its lower end to the respective ends of a bottomstretcher 42. Bottom stretcher 42 has a longitudinal medial divider flange 43 therein forming a pair of channel tracks 44, one in vertical alignment with each of the channels 39 and 40 in top stretcher 38. A pair of glazed doors 45 are slidable in each related pair of tracks. Each door 45 preferably has dimpled shoes 46 (FIG. 3) on the bottom face of its peripheral frame 47 to facilitate sliding of the doors into open and closed positions with minimum friction.

The connecting end frame structures 13 are alike, one being left-hand and the other right-hand. As best shown in FIGS. 4, and 8, each end frame is comprised of a bottom stretcher 4-8 consisting of a horizontal base flange 4-8 and an upstanding flange 29. Said bottom stretcher is detachably connected at its ends, as by screws 49', to the lower ends of end uprights 50. Each end frame '13- is comprised of opposed channels that are connected integrally at their upper ends to the respective ends of a top stretcher '51 that also is channel-shaped in section. The channels comprising the end frame structures are adapted to receive therein the related margins of a transparent panel 52.

The component parts of the various frame structures may be mass produced and stored with-a minimum use of space. The assembly of components into various frame structures is a fast operation and may be done in response to orders received. The components may be of considerable length and may be cut to the desired lengths as orders are received.

If desired, the components may be assembled into various frame structures and stored as separate, complete units. Each frame structure is a complete fabricated unit. The frame structures may be of various lengths so that showcases of different lengths may be assembled with the same end frames, and showcases of different depths may be assembled with the same front and back frames. The frame structures of individual showcases maybe shipped in knock-down form with a considerable saving in transportation costs, and may be'easily assembled at the installation site. If desired, the frame structures may be assembled at the factory.

In assembly, the screws 31, securing ducts 3% to the front panel 11, are engaged in threaded apertures in one flange of the associated upright 50 of the related end [frame structure 13, as shown in FIG. 4. The other upright 56) of each end frame structure is secured, as by screws 53, to the related end members 4-1 of the back frame structure. The assembled frame structure then is placed upon a suitable bottom support 16 and the bottom flanges 48' of the end frame structure are secured thereto as by screws 54, and a base panel 14 is laid thereover. This base panel 14 is dimensioned to fit snugly in place with its edges in firm abutment with the respective glass panels to prevent their displacement. The top panel 15, preferably glass or any other suitable transparent material, is then laid over the assembled showcase frame structure. Panel 15 is held against displacement by upstanding shoulders 5 5, 5d and 57, formed respectively on the upper stretchers of the end frame structures 13, the back frame structure 12 and the front frame structure 11.

The front frame structure illustrated in FIG. 7 is substantially like that shown in FIG. 6, and like numerals identify corresponding parts. In this embodiment the front flange of the downwardly opening channel 26 is inclined inwardly, as indicated at Mia.

The multiple showcase shown in FIGS. 9 through 12 is substantially like the showcase structure described hereinabove, and like numerals are used to identify corresponding parts. The assembled showcase sections are arranged end to end and consequently, end frame structures 13 are provided at the extreme ends of the assembly only.

Substantially square intermediate or division frames 58 are arranged between adjacent showcase structures. As best shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, each intermediate frame 58 is fabricated from sheet material having a bottom channel 59 formed with wide horizontal side flanges 60 that overlie and are secured to the related bottom panels 14, as by screws 61. The upright portions 62 of said frames are secured to the bottom channel 59, as by screws 63 and anchor blocks 24, and they are also channelshaped. The top channel 64 of each of said intermediate frame sections is welded or otherwiseconnected integrally at its ends to the upper ends of uprights 62 and it also has wide horizontal side flanges 65 that afford a support surface for the related end margins of the showcase top panel 15. When assembled, the back vertical channel-shaped portions 62 of said frames are seated snugly between the opposed offset faces of the back frame structures 12 as best illustrated in FIG. 12, and are secured thereto. as by screws 6d. The front channel shaped portions 62 are similarly secured to the offset vertical edges of the front frame structures. These intermediate or division frames may have a partition panel (not shown) seated in the channels thereof or such panel may be omitted, as desired.

Although I have described a few preferred embodiments of my invention, in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details of the structure may be modified or changed without departing from the spiritor scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described.

I claim: a

1. A front frame structure for a knock-downshowcase, said structure comprising an inverted channelshaped top stretcher having a flange integral with the free edge-of one wall of the channel and projecting laterally therefrom, a pair of end upright members each rigidly connected at its upper end to one end of said top stretcher and depending therefrom, each of said upright members being substantially L-shaped in section, a bottom stretcher detachably secured at its ends to the lower ends of the upright members, said bottom stretcher being substantially L-shaped in section, and means detachably secured to the end upright members and to the top stretcher for retaining a panel in said frame structure.

2. A front frame structure for a knock-down showcase, said structure comprising an inverted channelshaped top stretcher having a flange integral with the free edge of one wall of the channel and projecting laterally therefrom, a pair of end upright members each rigidly connected at its upper end to one end of said top stretcher and depending therefrom, a bottom stretcher detachably secured at its ends to the lower ends of the upright members, and means detachably secured to the end upright members and to the top stretcher for retaining a panel in said frame structure, one of said last mentioned means comprising a duct adapted to receive electric wires therethrough.

3. A front frame structure for a knock-down showcase, said structure comprising an inverted channelshaped top stretcher having a flange integral with the free edge of one wall of the channel and projecting laterally therefrom, a pair of end upright members each rigidly connected at its upper end to one end of said top stretcher and depending therefrom, each of said upright members being substantially L-shaped in section, a bottom stretcher detachably secured at its ends to the lower ends of the upright members, said bottom stretcher being substantially L-shaped in section, a reflector detachably secured to said top stretcher, and a duct detachably secured to one of said end upright members, said duct being adapted to receive electric wires therethrough, said duct and said reflector cooperating to help retain a panel in said front frame structure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 534,052 2/1895 Ruhe 1l95 634,701 10/1899 Petz 2406 1,020,557 3/1912 Hunter 312114 1,076,547 10/1913 Bullock 312- 1,186,642 6/1916 Alamy 312114 1,846,485 2/1932 Hart 312114 1,953,357 4/1934 Leya 312-114 X 2,023,260 12/1935 Beers 312114 2,279,945 4/1942 Hoffman 312--107 2,460,469 2/ 1949 Rifkin 62275 2,463,128 3/1949 Vanderveld 312-114 2,554,610 5/1951 Benson 312107 2,563,747 8/1951 Ressinger 312--140 2,569,934 10/1951 Kurtzon 312140 X 2,580,029 12/1951 Krauss 312-140 2,661,993 12/1953 Little 312107 2,665,370 1/1954 Kurtzon 312140 X 2,939,755 6/1960 Wyant 312-223 X FOREIGN PATENTS 25,413 1908 Great Britain. 192,478 2/ 1923 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

3. A FRONT FRAME STRUCTURE FOR A KNOCK-DOWN SHOWCASE, SAID STRUCTURE COMPRISING AN INVERTED CHANNELSHAPED TOP STRETCHER HAVING A FLANGE INTEGRAL WITH THE FREE EDGE OF ONE WALL OF THE CHANNEL AND PROJECTING LATERALLY THEREFROM, A PAIR OF END UPRIGHT MEMBERS EACH RIGIDLY CONNECTED AT ITS UPPER END TO ONE END OF SAID TOP STRETCHER AND DEPENDING THEREFROM, EACH OF SAID UPRIGHT MEMBERS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY L-SHAPED IN SECTION, A BOTTOM STRETCHER DETACHABLY SECURED AT ITS ENDS TO THE LOWER ENDS OF THE UPRIGHT MEMBERS, SAID BOTTOM STRETCHER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY L-SHAPED IN SECTION, A REFLECTOR DETACHABLY SECURED TO SAID TOP STRETCHER, AND A DUCT DETACHABLY SECURED TO ONE OF SAID END UPRIGHT MEMBERS, SAID DUCT BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE ELECTRIC WIRES THERETHROUGH, SAID DUCT AND SAID REFLECTOR COOPERATING TO HELD RETAIN A PANEL IN SAID FRONT FRAME STRUCTURE. 